Hulshof defeats Steelman in GOP gubernatorial primary

The Missourian ^ | 8-6-08 | staff and wire services

[Impy]

KANSAS CITY - Congressman Kenny Hulshof defeated state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in Tuesday's Republican primary.

Hulshof will take on Attorney General Jay Nixon in November's general election.

Hulshof received 49.2 percent of the vote to Steelman's 44.7 percent - a margin of more than 17,000 votes.

[Das Outsider]

Another thing that made me want to bust a vein was the fact that the GOP didn’t put up a single person to run in the 44th district for the State House of Reps. The dem wins by default. The GOP here in Jackson county needs to be pulled off of life support and a new organization needs to grow in its place. They are too used to losing so no candidates or token ones are put on the ballot every so often. It makes me want to puke.

Imagine having to deal with the Johnson County, KS GOP!

[o_zarkman44]

“What truly upset me about this race was the way the party “elite” ganged up on Steelman”

I have to agree. Hulsoff casme back from Washington on a party mission to regain Missouri compliance. When states take up things like immigration and pass tough laws, it tends to ruffle the feathers of the party elite who can’t /won’t get illegal immigration under control.

In other words, Missouri politics has been getting the job done, and making congress (with their 12% approval rating I might add) look pretty bad. And with the GOP party elitists comes an inflated ego. Nobody can cross them and get away with it. Steelman (and Matt Blunt) have accomplished things and taken on some tough problems.

I hate the thought of voting for Hulsoff come fall. Somehow I have developed a mistrust for the man. When party elite come to help him, it reminds me of the disconnect the GOP has developed with it’s base constituents. We will never regain control of the party when they keep piling on more elitists and running down the idealist candidates.

[VOA]

“
I should’ve clarified that. Hulshof was born in the SE and represents the
adjacent NE district (although the NE extends to Central MO).
“

Definitely NOT a problem, fieldmarshaldj!

I was just filling in some details...as best I have gathered them
since my move to “Mid-Mo” to look after some aging (and beloved parents)
and other extended family members.

No problem at all!
Given the murkey waters of Republican and Democratic politicos
in this “battle-ground” border state!

[fieldmarshaldj]

They’re separate contests. States keep moving back their Presidential primaries (almost now to the point they’re a year before the general election), but the federal (non-Presidential)/statewide office primaries mostly occur in the Summer. They hold 2 separate primaries because a Presidential race overshadows all those lesser contests. My personal opinion is that they hold those Presidential primaries way too early. They probably ought to be moved forward to where they used to be in the Summer, if not coinciding with the state/federal primary or a month earlier, so folks can campaign separately.

[LSUfan]

Sarah Steelman is one of the finest political leaders in America. She is very courageous and is a breath of fresh air for a GOP that has seen many of its members lose their way in recent years.

Alas, the “pull of pork” is powerful and running as a reformer is tough on the state level in just about every state.

Like many have said, we have not seen the last of Sarah Steelman. The better person did not win this race.